Ciucaș Mountains are the easiest mountains within reach from Bucharest, which makes them the perfect destination for new hikers as well as for family hiking/hiking with kids.
Ciucaș Mountains are very scenic, with paths that are not very steep and also without any dangerous hikes on the edge of deep ravines. They are more like very rocky hills as a matter of fact.
How to Get to the Ciucaș Peak Cabin
The easiest way to get to the Ciucaș Peak is to drive to the Ciucaș Peak Cabin (or nearby) and then hike from the cabin to the peak (about 1 hour for pros and 2 hours with kids).
The drive is about 2 1/2 hours (1 hour to Ploiești, 1 hour to Cheia and another 30 minutes to the Ciucaș Peak Cabin).
It is worth keeping in mind that from Cheia, after driving for a few kilometers on the DN1A national road you need to tur right on an unpaved road and drive for about 4 kiloeters on this road, which is ok for the most part.
For the last kilometer however the road is very very very steep, so it is very difficult (not impossible) to drive all the way to the cabin with a non-4x4 car. If you feel it gets too difficult, there is plenty of parking on the side of the road and you can hike to the cabin.
Also, even with a 4x4 car, teh descent is very difficult.
The Ciucaș Peak Cabin is very nice - they have lodging and a restaurant. The rooms need to be booked in advance as this is a popular getaway for the people of Bucharest. Also, the restaurant may get very very vrowded in the weekend (especially on Saturdays).
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| Ciucaș Peak Cabin - The beggining point of the hike to the Ciucaș Peak |
The Hike to the Ciucaș Peak
The hike itself from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak itself is one hour (brisk walk) to two hours (slow pace with plenty of stops on the way).
The red cross and vertical red stripe markings need to be followed, but the trail is simple, so you can probably need not worry too much about the markings (just go straight ahead on the beaten path).
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak |
Right after the Ciucaș Peak Cabin the trail goes up to a point with a perfect view of the Tigăile Mari Peak (which is about half way to the Ciucaș Peak).
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - Tigăile Mari |
Go on the trail, and when reaching the (seasonal) lake on the base of the Tigăile Mari Peak go up to the Tigăile Mari Peak. The trail is not too steep, so nothing to worry about if hiking with kids ... it will be a breeze even if you have to carry them.
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Looking down the Ciucaș Peak Cabin |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Tigăile Mari |
Once at the bottom of the Tigăile Mari Peak the trail breaks into two - take the right one.
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - View of the southern portion of the Ciucaș Mountains with Zăganu Peak being the highest point |
You will go for about 30-45 minutes at the most below the Tigăile Mari Peak, with very scenic views on your right (the Siriu Mountains as well as the eastern most point of Transylvania). This portion of the trail includes a 10-20 minute a steep rocky uphill portion. It will not be a problem for most hikers, even for a lot of kids (my daughter was flying through this portion), but it is the slowest part of the hike.
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - View to the Siriu Mountains |
The trails then countinues for another 30 minutes, without any major uphill portions, past a rock formation called the Chatting Old Ladies (because it looks like two old ladies chatting - cute ...).
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - Babe la Sfat (Old Women Chatting) |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - Looking towards the Siriu Moutains |
Once past the Tigăile Mari Peak, the view becomes more amazing on the left side too - the town of Cheia is now visible all the way down, and all the way to the Ciucaș Peak you will be able to see the Bucegi Mountains, Baiului Mountains, Piatra Craiului and Piatra Mare Moutains in the far background (weather permitting obviously).
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - Looking towards the town of Cheia |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - Bucegi Mountains, Baiului Mountains, Piatra Craiului and Piatra Mare Moutains in the far background |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - under the Tigăile Mari Peak - the Ciucaș Peak cannot be seen here but it is right after the crest in the far background |
Once at the base of the Ciucaș Peak, there is a 5 minute somewhat steep uphill portion to the peak and that is it. The views are amazing - the same scenery you saw during your climbing, but from a higher vantage point and more panoramic. You are now at 1.954 meters ... enjoy.
The small plateau on the peak give plenty of room for a lot of people and believe me there will be a lot of people in the sunny spring, summer and fall weekends.
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - the Ciucaș Peak on the top right |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - myself on the Ciucaș Peak |
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| Ciucaș Moutains - Trail from the Ciucaș Peak Cabin to the Ciucaș Peak - the Ciucaș Peak |
In the end, this trail was a true hit with my 5 year old daughter who gave it a 5 star rating :-), so enjoy it, either alone or with friends and family.
